Red Dress Ink Fans discussion

Cross it off your TBR list!

The goal of this challenge is to help us clean off our shelves and our TBR lists without acquiring any new books! The premise is simple: 30 Books, 3 months, as many as you can read!

The Rules:
1. For this challenge, you make three separate lists of 10 books each (plus up to 5 alternates if you so choose):
List A: Your Oldest 10 Goodreads TBR Books
List B: 10 Random TBR Books
List C: Any 10 TBR books – your choice
2. After the challenge starts (April 1), you can’t change the books on your lists . Up until then, shift whatever you’d like.
3. Each book can only count on one list for this challenge. So if one of your 10 Oldest TBR Books also ends up as one of your 10 Random choices, you need to pick a new book for one or the other.
4. You don’t have to go in order, and you can read off any list – but you can only count the book once.
5. You can select up to five alternate books for each list, and choose to substitute them for up to five books on each list. Alternate books have to be selected in the same method as the books on the list. (i.e. Your alternate books for list A will be books 11-15 on your GR TBR list)
6. Exception: If the book is in a series and you haven’t read up to that point yet, you may substitute an earlier book from the series (even if it’s not one of your oldest TBR or wasn’t randomly generated). Example: When I tried generating random numbers, I ended up with Janet Evanovich’s “To the Nines” as one of my choices, but I have only read the first book in that series. So I could use “Two for the Dough” in its place.
7. First one to cross off all their books wins!

Selecting your books:

List A: Your Oldest 10 Goodreads TBR Books
1. Go to your bookshelves and click on your “To Read” shelf
2. Sort this shelf in Edit view. This should number your books in the order in which you added them to your shelf.
3. Select books 1 – 10 on this shelf – these are the 10 oldest books on your GR TBR list. Books 11-15 may serve as your alternate choices.
4. If the books skip a number (i.e. if you have books 1-4, 7-10), then that means you’ve read or removed a few. So just select the first 10 (in the case above, I’d take 1-4, 7-12), and the next 5 as alternates.

List B: 10 Random TBR Books
1. Go to http://www.random.org
2. Using the Random Number Generator feature, type in 1 as the minimum number, and the total number of books on your To Read shelf as the maximum number. Click “generate” to generate 10 different random numbers.
3. Go to your To Read shelf in Edit view, and select the 10 books whose numbers correspond with the random numbers you generated.
4. You may generate 5 additional random numbers and use those books as alternates.
5. If you don’t have a book that matches a number that was generated, that means you have already read the book or removed it from your list. So, continue generating numbers until you find one that matches a book on your list.

List C: Any 10 TBR Books – Your Choice
1. Pick any 10 books out of your TBR stack. Any 10 books work – but you can’t change them once the challenge has started. The main goal is to not acquire any new books for this list!

To Post Points:
Each book read is worth 10 points (300 total points). To claim points, post the book you read and the list it is from. First person to read all the books on their lists is the winner!

This looks interesting I have totally shut down on the last one, I hope to get back into it.

Thanks for posting this Jen, especially with a new baby!

Question: What if you don't own a TBR book? Can you skip to the next one you own. I have a lot of books on my TBR that I would need to go to the library or buy.

Sounds like fun! I can't wait to get started. I'm working on my lists now. :)

Alicia wrote: "Question: What if you don't own a TBR book? Can you skip to the next one you own. I have a lot of books on my TBR that I would need to go to the library or buy."

Going to the library for a book is perfectly fine if you don't own it -- the main idea is just not to acquire any more books to complete the lists. So if you don't own one and your library doesn't have it, then you can skip to the next one or use one of your alternate choices.

Thanks Jen. I may try to do with this without going to the library as well....I have SOOOO many books just sitting on the shelves if I can read 30 of them (or close to) and get them out of the house my husband will throw a parade in your honor.

Alicia wrote: "Thanks Jen. I may try to do with this without going to the library as well....I have SOOOO many books just sitting on the shelves if I can read 30 of them (or close to) and get them out of the h..."

Haha...my fiance feels the same way...he wants those books out! I read and trade them all though I swear!

LOL Alicia and Cathy-My husband would feel the same way. I have so many books, I am sure I won't need to go to the library for one.

Here is my list. If I didn't have the book located in this house either on a bookshelf (including those borrowed many months ago from my sister) or on the Kindle (my husband and I share one) I skipped it and went directly to the next one I owned. I am banning myself from the library and buying new books, which I am sure will be painful because there are some coming out in the next 3 months that I am dying to read...but I must declutter my living room and my Communal Kindle :-)

LIST A Oldies But Goodies

1. Persuasion, Jane Austen
2. Scarlett, Alexandra Ripley
3. Picture Perfect, Jodi Picoult
4. Mercy, Jodi Picoult
5. Harvest The Heart, Jodi Picoult
6. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
7. The Mermaid Chair, Susan Monk Kidd
8. Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides
9. The Boleyn Inheritance, Phillipa Gregory
10. The Constant Princess, Phillipa Gregory

Alts:
11. Roots, Alex Haley
12. Home: A Memoir of My Early Years, Julie Andrews
13. Olivia Joules, Helen Fielding
14. Cause Celeb, Helen Fielding
15. Pledged, Alexandra Robbins

List B- Random

1. How To Be Popular, Meg Cabot
2. Diary of Blues Goddess, Erica Orloff
3. Wedding Season, Darcey Cosper
4. The Wednesday Letters, Jason F. Wright
5. Three Weeks With My Brother, Nicholas Sparks
6. Julie & Julia, Julia Powell
7. Tales of a Drama Queen, Lee Nichols
8. Sushi For One?, Camy Tang
9. Two Rivers, T. Greenwood
10. Target Underwear and a Vera Wang Gown, Adena Halpern

Alts
11. Divas Inc. Donna Hill
12. Good Grief, Lolly Winston
13. It's My F---ing Birthday, Merill Markoe
14. John Henry Days, Colson Whitehead
15. The Hour I First Believed, Wally Lamb

List C Ladies Choice

1. The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks 4/17/10
2. The Other Woman, Jane Green
3. The Second Assistant, Clare Naylor
4. Baby Proof, Emily Griffin 4/7/10
5. Little Bitty Lies, Mary Kay Andrews 4/3/10
6. While My Sister Sleeps, Barbara Delinsky
7. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
8. Dead As A Doornail, Charlaine Harris
9. Twelve Sharp, Janet Evanovich
10. The Song Reader, Lisa Tucker

Alts
1. Learning Curves, Genna Townley
2. The Curious Incidents of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon
3. What Do You Do All Day, Amy Schiebe
4. A Thousand Country Roads, Robert James Waller
5. Shoot The Moon, Billie Letts



Total Points: 30/300

I have serious doubts about making my way through this list. I don't own most of these books (List C is the only one that's made entirely of ones I own), so I'll have to reserve a bunch at the library.

Edit: And I've already had to change the list because I discovered that the American vs. British title caught me on the Jane Green book. I've replaced it.

List A:
Slightly Married by Wendy Markham
Shattered Dreams by Irene Spencer
(x) Lucky by Cecily von Ziegesar
The Carlyles by Cecily von Ziegesar
Tempted by Cecily von Ziegesar
The Best Investment Advice I Ever Received by Liz Claman
The Overachievers by Alexandra Robbins
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
Global Woman by Barbara Ehrenreich

Alternates:
Little Children by Tom Perotta
Scot on the Rocks by Brenda Janowitz
(x) Looking for Mr. Goodfrog by Laurie Graff
The Romancipation of Maggie Hunter by Jane Sigaloff
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Jane Sigaloff

List B:
Alphabet Weekends by Elizabeth Noble
The Blonde Theory by Kristin Harmel
The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow
Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart
Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller
(x) Chick Lit edited by Suzanne Ferriss
The Showrunners by David Wild
My Big Nose & Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter
(x) You Can’t Drink All Day If You Don’t Start in the Morning by Celia Rivenbark
The Hopeless Romantic’s Handbook by Gemma Townley

Alternates:
The Playground Mafia by Sarah Tucker
Dating Can Be Deadly by Wendy Roberts
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
(x) The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen
The Between Boyfriends Book by Cindy Chupack

List C:
Julie & Julia by Julia Powell
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
Laura Rider’s Masterpiece by Jane Hamilton
Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy edited by Richard Brian Davis
Corked by Kathryn Borel
The Crazy School by Cornelia Read
Drive Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
(x) The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
Hanging By a Thread by Karen Templeton

Total: 60/300

Oooohhh how exciting!! I shall work on this list sometime this weekend! Thanks Jen!

This is a great challenge! My boyfriend gets on me about buying new books when I have SO many to read...lol.

List A: (3 Read)
1)Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
2)Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
3)The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
4)Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
5)Skinwalker by Faith Hunter
6)Undead and Unworthy by Maryjanice Davidson
7)No Rest for the Witches anthology
8)Children of the Night by Mercedes Lackey
9)Jinx High by Mercedes Lackey
10)Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes
Alternates:
1)Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes
2)Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married by Marian Keyes
3)Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews
4)The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews
5)Meridian by Amber Kizer

List B: (5 read)
1)The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
2)The Debutante Divorcee by Plum Sykes
3)Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
4)Like a Charm by Candace Havens
5)Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes
6)Sarah's Key by Tatiana Rosnay
7)Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye
8)Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
9)Lost in a Good Book Jasper Fforde
10)Dead and Dateless by Kimberly Raye
Alternates:
1)Friday Night Cocktails by Alison Rushby
2)Let's Blow Thru Europe
3)Julius Caeser by William Shakespeare
4)Whose Bride is She Anyway? by Dakota Cassidy
5)The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes

List C: (6 read)
1)Undead and Unwelcome by Maryjanice Davidson
2)Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran
3)Your Coffin or Mine? by Kimberly Raye
4)Just One Bite by Kimberly Raye
5)Sucker for Love by Kimberly Raye
6)When Summers in the Meadow by Niall Williams
7)The Luck of the Irish by Niall Williams
8)The Pipes are Calling by Niall Williams
9)White Knight by Jim Butcher
10)Small Favor by Jim Butcher
Alternates:
1)Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke
2)Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison
3)Flirt by Laurell K Hamilton
4)Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K Hamilton
5)Jaywalking with the Irish by David Monagan

Nicole wrote: "I have serious doubts about making my way through this list. I don't own most of these books (List C is the only one that's made entirely of ones I own), so I'll have to reserve a bunch at the lib..."

Nicole: I love the It Girl Series...I am so upset the series is ending this spring.

Thanks for setting this up! I really like the format of this challenge too:)
Okay here goes..I came up with Alternates even for List C in case I can't get certain books at the library or find them to buy or trade, etc.

List A: Oldest TBR Books:

1. Secrets of a Shoe Addict – Beth Harbison 6/16/10
2. Hope in a Jar - Beth Harbison 5/16/10
3. How to Sleep with a Movie Star - Kristin Harmel 04/06/10
4. The Art of French Kissing- Kristin Harmel 4/18/10
5. The Blonde Theory - Kristin Harmel
6. Baby Proof – Emily Giffin 4/18/10
7. Citizen Girl – Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin
8. Nanny Returns - Kraus and Emma McLaughlin 5/2/10
9. Tales of A Drama Queen – Lee Nichols
10. True Lies of a Drama Queen - Lee Nichols

Alternates:
11. Hand Me Down - Lee Nichols
12. Wednesday Night Witches - Lee Nichols
13. Fashionistas – Lynn Messina
14. Trials of Tiffany Trott – Isabel Wolff
15. Rescuing Rose - Isabell Wolff


List B: 10 Random TBR Books

1. 144 – Slightly Single - Wendy Markham
2. 131 – Italian for Beginners – Kristin Harmel
3. 205 – Are you there Vodka, It’s Me Chelsea? – Chelsea Handler (4/2/10)
4. 189 - The Chocolate Lovers’ Club – Carole Matthews
5. 167 – Such A Pretty Fat – Jen Lancaster 4/27/10
6. 133 - Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife – Niamh Greene
7. 121 - Second Thyme Around/Thyme Out – Katie Fforde 4/23/10
8. 72 - The First Assistant – Mimi Hare & Clare Naylor 4/14/10
9. 122 – Wild Designs – Katie Fforde
10. 183 – Tallulahland – Lynn Messina
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Alternates:
11. 115 – The Importance of Being Married - Gemma Townley 6/21/10
12. 95 – Carrie Pillby - Carrie Lissner
13. 81 – The Accidental Virgin - Valerie Frankel
14. 218 – Sex as a Second Language – Alisa Kwitney
15. 154 – The Pact – Jennifer Sturman


List C: Any TBR Choice

1. Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft – Mindy Klasky 4/10/10
2. The Night I got Lucky – Laura Caldwell 4/13/10
3. The Year of Living Famously – Laura Caldwell 5/4/10
4. The Carrie Diaries – Candace Bushnell 6/3/10
5. Holly’s Inbox – Holly Denham
6. Pretty In Plaid – Jen Lancaster 5/6/10
7. Enchanted Inc – Shanna Swendson 4/22/10
8. A Total Waste Of Makeup – Kim Gruenfelder 6/30/10
9. Sammy’s Hill – Kristin Gore 5/12/10
10. Diary of a Mad Bride – Laura Wolf

Alternates:
11. The Big Love – Sarah Dunn
12. The Wedding Girl – Madeleine Wickham 4/8/10
13. Monkey Business – Sarah Mlynowski
14. Rachel’s Holiday – Marian Keyes
15. One for the Money – Janet Evanovich 4/26/10


21/30 Books
210/300 Points

Jen B wrote: "Cross it off your TBR list!

The goal of this challenge is to help us clean off our shelves and our TBR lists without acquiring any new books! The premise is simple: 30 Books, 3 months, as many a..."

Thanks Jen! I'm going to try to work on my list today.

My List:

List A – 10 Oldest TBR Books
1. Gone With the Wind – Margaret Mitchell
2. The Emperor’s Children – Claire Messud
3. The Broken Shore – Peter Temple
4. Promise Not to Tell – Jennifer McMahon
5. Kabul Beauty School – Deborah Rodriguez
6. Certain Girls – Jennifer Weiner (04.22.10)
7. Hollywood Crows – Joseph Wambaugh
8. This Charming Man – Marian Keyes
9. The Thorn Birds – Colleen McCullough
10. Lady Killer – Lisa Scottoline

Alternates:
1. Names My Sisters Call Me – Megan Crane
2. The Secret History – Donna Tartt
3. American Wife – Curtis Sittenfeld
4. Sharp Objects – Gillian Flynn
5. English As A Second Language – Megan Crane

List B – 10 Random TBR Books
552 – Pretty In Plaid – Jen Lancaster (sub: Bitter is the New Black)
271 – Nineteen Minutes – Jodi Picoult
300 – Bitter Sweets – Roopa Farooki
269 – The Spellman Files – Lisa Lutz (04.13.10)
88 – Gossip Girl – Cecily Von Zeigesar
51 – Nearlyweds – Beth Kendrick (04.02.10)
467 – The Girl Who Played with Fire – Steig Larsson
415 – Finishing Touches – Deanna Kizis
164 – Three Bedrooms in Chelsea – Liz Ireland
174 – The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes – Diane Chamberlain

Alternates:
495 – Wedding Girl – Madeleine Wickham
116 – Crazy Ladies – Michael Lee West
402 – Shiver – Maggie Steifvater
535 – Sleeping Arrangements – Madeleine Wickham
620 – Bloodroot – Amy Greene

List C – Any 10 TBR Books
1. Belong to Me - Marisa De Los Santos
2. The Pink Ghetto - Liz Ireland (04.09.10)
3. The Art of Racing in the Rain – Garth Stein (05.06.10)
4. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks - E. Lockhart (04.15.10)
5. The Opposite of Me – Sarah Pekkanen (05.05.10)
6. The Little Giant of Aberdeen County – Tiffany Baker
7. Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah
8. Mating Rituals of the North American Wasp - Lauren Lipton
9. The Book of Bright Ideas - Sandra Kring
10. Dog On It – Spencer Quinn

Alternates:
1. Little Lady, Big Apple - Hester Browne
2. The Last Summer (of You and Me) - Ann Brashares
3. End of Story - Peter Abrahams
4. Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen
5. The Pact - Jennifer Sturman

Total Books Read: 7/30


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List A
1. Jemima J: A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swans
2. Mr. Maybe
3. With Or Without You
4. A Minor Indiscretion
5. The Scent of Scandal
6. It's a Kind of Magic
7. The Spinster Sisters
8. Sleeping Over
9. Room for Improvement
10. Mike, Mike & Me



Alternates
1. The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives
2. Sweet Love
3. Love the One You're With
4. Smart Vs. Pretty
5. The Girlfriend Curse


List B
1. Coffee And Kung Fu
2. Airhead
3. The Favours and Fortunes of Katie Castle
4. Spin Cycle
5. How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls
6. English as a Second Language
7. Swapping Lives
8. Thin Is the New Happy
9. Queen of Babble
10. Prep



Alternates
1. I Take This Man
2. Stupid and Contagious
3. Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office
4. Fifteen Minutes of Shame
5. Weekend in Paris


List C
1. Dead and Alive
2. Exes and Ohs
3. Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead
4. First Comes Love
5. A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog
6. The Little Lady Agency and the Prince
7. See Jane Write: A Girl's Guide to Writing Chick Lit
8. Theodora Twist
9. The Pact
10. A Wild Affair: A Novel




8/30 books

Alicia wrote: "Nicole: I love the It Girl Series...I am so upset the series is ending this spring."

I've enjoyed the first few, but I stopped reading after the show premiered (though I did finish the original series). Although I like the show, Jenny's character is so different that it throws me off!

My List:

List A – 10 Oldest TBR Books
1. Harry Potter #7
2. The Time Traveler's Wife
3. Certain Girls
4. 19 Minutes
5. Little Earthquakes
6. The Lovely Bones
7. Water for Elephants
8. Goodnight Nobody
9. PS I Love You
10. How Nancy Drew Saved My Life

alternates:
1. The Man of My Dreams
2. Breaking Dawn
3. Gossip Girl #1
4. Bras & Broomsticks
5. Scot on the Rocks

List B – 10 Random TBR Books
1. sTORI Telling
2. Truly, Madly
3. The Secret Year 041010
4. Perfect Fifths
5. Salem Falls
6. In a Heartbeat
7. Shoot the Moon
8. 13 Little Blue Envelopes
9. Sarah's Key
10. Fourth Comings

alternates:
1. Pretty in Plaid 042010
2. Will Grayson, Will Grayson 042410
3. House Rules 052410
4. Someone Like You
5. English as a Second Language

List C – Any 10 TBR Books
1. Her Fearful Symmetry
2. Heart of the Matter 053010
3. My Fair Lazy 061410
4. Gimme a Call 050410
5. Kissing Frogs in Cyberspace
6. Some Girls Are 040210
7. Cracked Up to Be 041310
8. Magic Hour
9. This Lullaby
10. Just Listen 040710

alternates:
1. The Unwritten Rule 051210
2. Paper Towns
3. Thirteen Reasons Why 042910
4. I Love You, Beth Cooper
5. Take Me There 062110

13/30

List A: Oldest
1.My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler - 4/2/10
2.The Quilter’s Homecoming by Jennifer Chiaverini
3.The New Year’s Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
4.The Winding Ways Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
5.Fishbowl by Sarah Mlynowski
6.Bras & Broomsticks by Sarah Mlynowski -4/24/10
7.Frogs & French Kisses by Sarah Mlynowski - 5/2/10
8.As Seen on TV by Sarah Mlynowski
9.The Playground Mafia by Sarah Tucker
10.Bride Needs Groom by Wendy Markham

Alternates
1.The Nine Month Plan by Wendy Markham
2.Never on a Sundae by Wendy Markham
3.Spitting Feathers by Kelly Harte
4.Guilty Feet by Kelly Harte
5.Starting From Square Two by Caren Lissner

List B: Random
1.Four Blondes by Candace Bushnell
2.The Art of Undressing by Stephanie Lehmann
3.What Men Want by Deborah Blumenthal
4.Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
5.Waiting for Morning by Karen Kingsbury
6.The Guild in the Granary by Alma Lynn Thompson
7.A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton - 5/10/10
8.Speed Shrinking by Susan Shapiro
9.Cocktails for Three by Madeleine Wickham
10.Ordinary Life: Stories by Elizabeth Berg

Alternates
1.Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
2.Paradise Lost by John Milton
3.The Awakening by Kate Chopin
4.Life of Pi by Yann Martel
5.Spin Cycle by Sue Margolis

List C: Choice
1.Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
2.Slightly Suburban by Wendy Markham - 4/19/10
3.Four to Score by Janet Evanovich - 4/12/10
4.Jack With a Twist by Brenda Janowitz - 4/6/10
5.Are You There Vodka? by Chelsea Handler - 4/5/10
6.Bare Bones by Kathy Reichs - 4/19/10
7.The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer
8.B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
9.Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin - 4/12/10
10.Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Alternates
1.The Boy I Loved Before by Jenny Colgan
2.Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
3.American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell
4.Open by Andre Agassi
5.Knitting Under the Influence by Claire LaZebnik

10/30 Books

This challenge looks like soo much fun! I am still recovering from the last challenge that I took part in...But I would love to do this one!

I am going away this weekend (we are going to Boston), but I will try to work on my list ASAP...

Can we start reading before April 1? Or do I have to wait to start reading until after it begins?

Melissa wrote: "This challenge looks like soo much fun! I am still recovering from the last challenge that I took part in...But I would love to do this one!

I am going away this weekend (we are going to Boston), ..."

You can start reading but only up to the halfway point. That's the rule that we've had for the previous challenges and I think it fits well for this one too.

Given that this challenege is pretty different from previous ones, I'm interested to see if anyone has any kind of gameplan on how you're going to tackle it.

Do you plan to read all the books from one list before moving on to the next? Or will you read at random?

I think I am going to try to read a book from List A, then List B, then List C and back to List A and so on.

I think I'm just going to read what speaks to me first. There are books on all three lists that, for lack of a better word, take priority over the other books on the list. So, that's my plan! I want to know how that random generator and how my oldest to-reads were all the five hundred pages and over books I own!!

No plan right now, but I'll probably read most of List C before I tackle A and B since I actually own all the books on List C. The tricky part is going to be not picking up additional books when I go to the library to get the ones I don't have.

Stacy wrote: "Given that this challenege is pretty different from previous ones, I'm interested to see if anyone has any kind of gameplan on how you're going to tackle it.

Do you plan to read all the books f..."

This may seem obvious, but I think for me I'm going to start by reading the books I own first:) I'm really excited about pretty much all the books on my list, so other than that, I'm just going to go with the ones I really want to read...like How to SLeep with a Movie Star, The Night I got Lucky and A Girls Guide to Witchcraft...I 've been putting those ones off forever and am dying to read them!

I am going to attempt to start some of the ones in A right away. Some of them are longer. I may read one from B or C while in the process. But I really need to get through these.

I just realized I never put up my alternates, I will have to do that later today.

Also, I forgot to mention, I'm trying to get half my books or a least a quarter as unabridged audio versions (since i listen to books a lot in my car) to help out with the enormity of the tasks!

Cathy,
That is my plan too... Some of the books on my C list I picked because they were either sequels to others generated (Chelsea Handler, etc) or because I have them already on my computer as audio versions. With taking two classes now, and two classes during the spring semester (each semester having a class that requires reading) I know my leisure reading time is limited so I will take advantage of my 35min ride into work every day!

I am going to pick my books randomly--whatever I feel like reading. :) Also, it depends on what I'm able to get from the library.

I told my friend about this challenge and she asked how long we have to complete it. She said it would probably take her over a year. I said--We have 3 months! ha. I know I won't be able to complete it since I have a ton of reading to do for school. But it'll still be fun to participate.

Suzanne wrote: "I know I won't be able to complete it since I have a ton of reading to do for school..."

I am the same way! I know I won't be the fastest, but I'll still see how many I can read in the time frame!

Ashley wrote: "Cathy,
That is my plan too... Some of the books on my C list I picked because they were either sequels to others generated (Chelsea Handler, etc) or because I have them already on my computer as..."

What are you in school for? I am doing speech language pathology. We have had SO much reading this semester. Plus, we have to take notes for each chaper, which takes hours. It really cuts into my reading time!

Wow, this is going to be alot of reading for me. I'm going to work on my list this weekend. This will really help me out, I have a problem deciding what I'm going to read next so with a list for the next 3 months I should be set. I don't get much time to read with 2 children and a full work load but it will be interesting to see how I can do.

Suzanne wrote: "What are you in school for?"

I am an RN and am working on my BSN. Have to take a history and English class that each require 3-4 books.

Stacy wrote: "Given that this challenege is pretty different from previous ones, I'm interested to see if anyone has any kind of gameplan on how you're going to tackle it.

Do you plan to read all the books f..."

I think my strategy will just be to read whatever I'm in the mood for at the time and hope I can get through as many of them as possible. I'm still adjusting to having two kids, and with a new baby I'm not sleeping very much, so my reading has slowed way down. So I'm probably going to avoid the more intimidating ones since I'm not sure I can handle them right now!

List A: Your Oldest 10 Goodreads TBR Books
1. Water for Elephants – Sara Gruen
2. The Gatecrasher – Madeline Wickham
3. The Importance of Being Married – Gemma Townley
4. Savannah Blues – Mary Kay Andrews
5. Little Lady, Big Apple – Hester Browne
6. Hand – Me – Downs – Lee Nichols
7. Welcome to the Real World – Carole Matthews
8. Everyone Else’s Girl – Megan Crane
9. Belong to Me – Marisa de los Santos
10. A Little Help from Above – Saralee Rosenberg
Alternates
11. The Bridesmaid – Hailey Abbott
12. Eat Cake – Jeanne Ray
13. The Funeral Planner – Lynn Isenberg
14. What I did for Love – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
15. The Funeral Planner Goes to the White House - Lynn Isenberg

List B: 10 Random TBR Books
1. The Castaways - Elin Hilderbrand
2. Julia & Julia - Julie Powell
3. Still Alice – Lisa Genova
4. Rich Again – Anna Maxted
5. Flawless – Sara Shepard 4/3
6. Dreamland – Sara Dessen
7. Mommywood – Tori Spelling
8. Bread Alone – Judith Ryan Hendricks
9. How to Meet Cute Boys – Deanna Kizis
10. For Better, For Worse – Carole Matthews
Alternates
11. Guyaholic – Carolyn Mackler
12. Persuading Anne – Melissa Nathan
13. Just Listen – Sara Dessen
14. Anyone But You – Jennifer Cruise
15. Murder 101 – Maggie Barbieri

List C: Any 10 TBR Books – Your Choice
1. Comfort Me with Apples – Ruth Reichl
2. Big Boned – Meg Cabot 5/10
3. The Secret Between Us – Barbara Delinsky
4. The Girls’ from Ames – Jeffrey Zaslow 5/31
5. This is How it Happened – Jo Barrett
6. The Journal of Mortifying Moments – Robyn Harding
7. Nanny Returns – Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
8. The Fidelity Files – Jessica Brody
9. Look Again – Lisa Scottoline4/5
10. Lift – Kelly Corrigan
Alternates
11. The Booster – Jennifer Solow
12. Gucci Gucci Coo – Sue Margolis
13. Goodbye Jimmy Choos – Annie Sanders
14. Happiness Sold Separately – Lolly Winston
15. Spa Vacation – Theresa Alan

2/30

Here is my list:

List A: Oldest 10 Goodreads TBR Books
1-Baby Proof-Emily Giffin
2-Love the One You're With-Emily Giffin
3-Little Earthquakes-Jennifer Weiner
4-Goodnight Nobody-Jennifer Weiner
5-Certain Girls-Jennifer Weiner
6-Best Friends Forever-Jennifer Weiner
7-Babyville-Jane Green
8-Straight Talking-Jane Green
9-To Have and to Hold-Jane Green
10-The Other Woman-Jane Green
Alternates:
11-Swapping Lives-Jane Green
12-The Beach House-Jane Green
13-Mr Maybe-Jane Green
14-Bookends-Jane Green
15-Second Chance

List B: 10 Random TBR Books
1-The Dairy Queen-Allison Rushby
2-The House-Danielle Steel
3-Don't Look Down-Jennifer Crusie
4-The Starter Wife-Gigi Levangie Grazer
5-One Day at a Time-Danielle Steel
6-The Summer Kitchen-Lisa Wingate
7-The Brightest Star in the Sky-Marian Keyes
8-Maneater-Gigi Levangie Grazer
9-French Silk-Sandra Brown
10-A Summer Affair-Elin Hilderbrand
Alternates:
11-LA Candy-Lauren Conrad
12-Send No Flowers-Sandra Brown
13-Love, Rosie-Cecelia Ahern
14-The Good Luck Girl-Kerry Reichs
15-Love Found Me-Vanessa Richardson

List C: Any 10 TBR Books
1-Nearlyweds-Beth Kendrick
2-Twenties Girl-Sophie Kinsella
3-Mr & Miss Anonymous-Fern Michaels Completed 5/10/10
4-Coming Home-Mariah Stewart
5-Me & Emma-Elizabeth Flock
6-Watermelon-Marian Keyes
7-The Next Thing on My List-Jill Smolinski
8-Summer Sisters-Judy Blume
9-One for the Money-Janet Evanovich
10-The Accidental Mother-Rowan Coleman
Alternates
11-The Pact-Jennifer Sturman
12-Between Sisters-Kristin Hannah
13-Welcome to Tempation-Jennifer Crusie
14-Someone Like You-Sarah Dessen
15-Walking on Broken Glass-Christa Allen

1/30 Books

Nicole wrote: "No plan right now, but I'll probably read most of List C before I tackle A and B since I actually own all the books on List C. The tricky part is going to be not picking up additional books when I..."

LOL! I know how that is!

Angie wrote: "Wow, this is going to be alot of reading for me. I'm going to work on my list this weekend. This will really help me out, I have a problem deciding what I'm going to read next so with a list for ..."

I know how you feel. I only have one child, and I only have her four days a week, but I too have a full time job. And I'm going to be starting school again on April 1st. I think reading is going to take a majore back seat! :)

And here are my lists:

List A: Oldest TBR
1. The Key - Jennifer Sturman
2. Hating Valentine's Day - Allison Rushby
3. Strapless - Leigh Riker
4. The Hunt - Jennifer Sturman
5. Lucy's Launderette - Betsy Burke
6. The Dairy Queen - Allison Rushby
7. Seven Sunny Days - Chris Manby
8. Flyover States - Grace Grant
9. Couch World - Cathy Yardley
10. Sex with the Ex - Tyne O'Connell

Alternates:
1. The Younger Man - Sarah Tucker
2. Hardly Working - Besty Burke
3. Performance Anxiety - Betsy Burke
4. Sleeping Arrangements - Madeline Wickham
5. In Her Shoes - Jennifer Weiner

List B: Random Books
1. Notting Hell - Rachel Johnson
2. The Art of Social War - Jodi Wing
3. Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner
4. Lipstick Jungle - Candace Bushnell
5. Celebutantes - Amanda Goldberg
6. Pushing 30 - Whitney Gaskill
7. She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
8. Flirting with Forty - Jane Porter
9. To Have & To Hold - Jane Green
10. Un-Bridaled - Eileen Rendahl

List C: Any Books
1. The Jinx - Jennifer Sturman
2. The Pact - Jennifer Sturman
3. The Girl's Guide to Witchcraft - Mindy Klasky
4. Sorcery & The Single Girl - Mindy Klasky
5. Magic & The Modern Girl - Mindy Klasky
6. Family Affair - Caprice Crane
7. The Brightest Star in the Sky - Marian Keyes
8. Nanny Returns - Emma McLaughlin
9. New Moon - Stephanie Meyer
10. Brava Valentine - Adriana Trigani

Here are my lists.....finally:

List A-Oldest

1. A Most Uncommon Degree of Popularity-Kathleen Gilles Seidel
2. Babyville-Jane Green
3. Dating without Novacaine-Lisa Cach
4. The Sweetest Taboo-Carole Matthews
5. A Minor Indescretion-Carole Matthews
6. Roommates-Beth Kendrick
7. Gossip Girl-It had to be you-Cecily Von Ziegsar
8. She went all the Way-Meggin Cabot
9. Seaview Inn-Sherryl Woods
10. Fashionistas-Lynn Messina

Alternates

1. American Girls About Town-Jennifer Weiner
2. Goodnight Nobody-Jennifer Weiner
3. Certain Girls-Jennifer Weiner
4. True Hollywood Lies-Josie Brown
5. Bergdorf Blondes-Plum Sykes

List B-Random

1. A little help from above-Saralee Rosenberg
2. Little White Lies-Gemma Townley
3. Love, Suburban Style-Wendy Markham
4. Gucci Mamas-Cate Kendall
5. Slightly Single-Wendy Markham
6. Catching Fire-Suzanne Collins
7. Just Breathe-Susan Wiggs
8. Monkey Business-Sarah Mylnowski
9. The Pact-Jennifer Sturman
10. The Ivy Chronicles-Karen Quinn

Alternates

1. L.A. Women-Cathy Yardley
2. Smart vs. Pretty-Valerie Frankel
3. The little lady agency-Hester Browne
4. Delia's Crossing-V.C. Andrews
5. Distant Shores-Kristin Hannah
6. Hand Me Down-Lee Nichols

List C-Choice

1. Big Girl-Danielle Steel
2. Gone-Lisa McMann
3. Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt-Beth Hoffman
4. Sweet Little Lies-Lauren Conrad
5. Witch and Wizard-James Patterson
6. Knit Two-Kate Jacobs
7. Not My Daughter-Barbara Delinsky
8. Project Jennifer-Jill Amy Rosenblatt
9. The Time Travelers Wife-Audrey Niffeneggar
10. Kissing Frogs in Cyberspace-Dianne Sweeney

Alternates

1. More Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet-Lola Douglas
2. Versace Sisters-Cate Kendall
3. Diary of a Working Girl-Daniella Brodsky
4. Not Quite a Bride-Kristen Sawyer
5. Goodbye Jimmy Choos-Annie Sanders

I hope everyone is ready - this challenge starts tomorrow! :)

I, sadly, do not think I will be able to get much reading done in the future as my online classes start tomorrow. (small tear in the corner of my eye)

Good luck with your classes Stacy! School work does severely cut into reading time, darn it. I'm taking summer classes as well!

Are we going to post books here as we finish them?

Some Girls Are - Courtney Summers

from list C, any TBR books

I think I am just going to put a line through the ones I've read with a date, keeping a running total ##/30 at the bottom of my list. That way whomever's keeping track of all of us only has to look at my one post... I don't know if that's easier or not..??

Ashley wrote: "I think I am just going to put a line through the ones I've read with a date, keeping a running total ##/30 at the bottom of my list. That way whomever's keeping track of all of us only has to loo..."

OK, I can do that!

Suzanne wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I think I am just going to put a line through the ones I've read with a date, keeping a running total ##/30 at the bottom of my list. That way whomever's keeping track of all of us ..."

Ditto! I'm going to do the same:)

Reading away...this weekend I am going to add all the books on my shelves to good reads that I own, I am sure it will be really scary.

Ugh I'm with Stacy - with school I just don't think I will be getting much reading done. Sadly I have my final coming up so I have to just read all about Absence Management (I know you are all jealous!) and only Absence Management. I'll miss you RDI books!